An Apple’s AdventurePictures and Story by Tiffani Sprague

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Once upon a time there was an apple. His name was Simeon.

Simeon was an orphan. He had no family except a kind old lady who had taken

him in and raised him, since she had no children of her own to take care of.

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Her name was Granny Garlic. Granny Garlic was horribly

afraid of bad breath. She brushed her teeth several times a

day, followed by a rigorous flossing and mouth wash. Granny

Garlic had the cleanest teeth in the neighborhood.

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Simeon and Granny lived peacefully and happily

together until one day something terrible happened.

Granny Garlic was kidnapped by an evil dragon.

Simeon was utterly heartbroken. He knew he could

not just stand by and let his dear Granny (and only

family in the world) be devoured by the evil dragon.

Simeon thought long and hard about what to do.

He thought about all that Granny Garlic had done for

him and how kind she was to everyone. Simeon looked

at himself in the mirror and decided then and there

he would do whatever it took to get his grandmother

back. Simeon was going on a quest.

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Simeon packed some things and set out in the direction the

dragon had gone. He had no idea what he would face or

what would happen to him. But he didn’t care. Simeon was

driven by love.

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Simeon traveled across the plains which were covered

by strange rocks. The plains soon gave way to a forest.

Simeon had never been this far away from home

before, but he was determined to press on. The forest

was dark and the trees grew in twisted shapes, but

Simeon knew he had to keep going.

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Soon the forest gave way

to mountains. The higher

into the mountains Simeon

climbed the colder it got.

Soon snow began to fall. The

rivers and streams froze over.

But Simeon did not stop, he

kept going.

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Before long the mountains

began to change into hills

and the weather to warm.

Simeon saw many strange and

wondrous creatures on his

way through the mountains.

When he had at last passed

through the foothills he was

in a lush valley with streams

and tall grasses.

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Simeon found a clear stream and stopped for a drink.

As he was quenching his thirst he heard a strange, but

beautiful voice. The apple looked up to see a lovely

vegetable across the stream from him. “Hello little

apple,” said the artichoke “What is your name?”

“Granny told me not to talk to strangers...” Simeon

replied bashfully. The artichoke laughed to herself.

“I mean you no harm. You look weary and tired, have

you traveled far?” She smiled at Simeon. She looked

like a nice artichoke, but Simeon was still nervous. He

had a nagging feeling in the back of his mind.

“Yes. I have traveled far, but I have a long way to go

still, I should be moving on...” Simeon replied.

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What is the harm? Stay a while. You look hungry, would you like something to eat”

The artichoke prodded. “Well,” Simeon hesitated. “I am a little hungry.”

He was indeed very hungry. “Why don’t you come into my home. I have a nice meal

you could eat.” The artichoke moved a ways down the stream to a cave. “Come

inside.” She beckoned him forward.

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Simeon looked across the stream. The cave was dark and

scary and the water was moving fast. He hesitated.

“Come to me....” The artichoke began to sing.

Simeon started to wade out into the stream. The rocks

were slippery and the going was treacherous, but the

sound of the artichoke’s voice was so beautiful he

wanted to keep going. Suddenly, before Simeon had

reached the deepest part of the stream, a cloud came

over the sun. Simeon could see the artichoke for what

she really was. She was ugly and rotten. The wind that

had blown the cloud over the sun carried the scent of

rotten vegetables from her cave to Simeon. Terrified,

Simeon rushed out of the water and ran away. The

artichoke’s angry howl echoing in his ears.

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Simeon ran and ran until he came to a vast bridge. Simeon ran out

onto the bridge and stopped to catch his breath. “Who goes there?”

A rough voice whispered. Simeon looked around alarmed. He saw

the faint figure of an orange standing along one side of the bride.

“Who goes there?” The ghost orange repeated. “Simeon.” The apple

replied, too exhausted to run away. “Simeon, eh?” The ghost replied.

“Well Simeon, why are you on my bridge?”

“I was running away from the nasty artichoke... Which I only ran

into in the first place because I am trying to rescue my dear Granny

from an evil dragon who kidnapped her! But now I am lost and I

don’t know which direction to go!” Simeon began to cry. The orange

perked up, “You’re going to kill the dragon? Why didn’t you say so?

It just so happens that you are going the right direction and that I can

help you!”

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“To get to the dragon’s lair you must first pass by the watchers. They

were created by the dragon long ago when he employed pirates to

gather gold for him. They will only let you pass if you can convince

them you are a pirate! Once you pass the watchers you will be very

close the to dragon’s lair.”

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The ghost of the orange was practically jumping up and

down with excitement. “How will I convince the dragon

that I am a pirate?” Simeon asked. “I have something for

you brave Simeon!” The orange responded. “I was once a

notorious pirate, Captain Naval they called me! Until that

dragon chewed up my boat and ate my crew. Ever since I

have been haunting this bridge waiting for someone brave

to come by and slay the dragon. I have been waiting for

you Simeon!” The ghost of Captain naval gave Simeon a

box. Inside the box was Captain’s pirate hat and a sword.

Captain Naval put the hat on Simeon and tied the sword

to his waist. “Now you are ready!”

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Captain Naval gave Simeon instructions on how to get

to the watchers. “Do not fear Simeon,” said the orange,

“For you are brave and you have a good heart. You will

persevere.” Simeon thanked the ghost and was soon on

his way once more.

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It was not long before Simeon

found the path Captain Naval

had been talking about. Not

long after Simeon had found the

path he found the watchers. A

bitter looking lime and a sour

looking lemon sat atop a post

arguing with each other.

“STOP! Who goes there?!” The

lime shouted. “I wanted to say

it!” Whined the lemon. “You got

to say it last time!” Protested the

lime. “Now, Who are you!?” It

shouted again.

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“Yar!” Shouted Simeon doing his best to sound like a

pirate, “It is I the notorious black cored Simeon!”

“Are you a pirate?” Asked the lime. “Yes, are you a

pirate!?” Echoed the lemon. “I just asked that!” Yelled

the lime. “Shut up!” Hissed the lemon. “Yar!” Shouted

Simeon again, “I am the blackest cored pirate to ever

sail the seas!” The lime and lemon looked at each other.

They looked at Simeon. They looked at each other again

and nodded. “Go forth evil pirate! The dragon’s lair lies

yonder!” They shouted together. Simeon quickly walked

past them and listened as they began to argue with each

other once more.

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Simeon walked until he reached the entrance of the dragon’s lair.

Outside lay a monstrous beast. He was furry and wrinkly and had

cooked teeth. The beast sat up as Simeon approached. Great strings of

drool hung from his jowls. Simeon began to shake with fear. He found

a stick near by and slowly picked it up and threw it. The giant beast

bounded away after it. Before Simeon could get much closer to the

entrance the great beast brought the stick back. Simeon threw the stick

again, and again the beast brought the stick back. ‘He just wants to

play!’ Simeon realized. So Simeon played with the dragon’s watchdog

until the beast was happy and content. The beast lay down, exhausted

from the game of fetch. He licked Simeon to show his appreciation

and then fell asleep at once, snoring loudly.

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Simeon went into the

cave to find his Granny.

He made his way through

many dark and twisting

tunnels until he came

to a large room far

underground. There, in

the center, was the dragon.

Simeon was so scared he

couldn’t move.

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Simeon could hear faint sobbing echoing in the cave. He looked closer and

found that the dragon had Granny Garlic clutched in his claws. Suddenly

Simeon roared with fury and drew his sword to battle the dragon. He had

journeyed far and no matter how afraid he was, he was going to try to save

his grandmother. The dragon heard Simeon’s challenge. He set Granny

down and turned to fight Simeon.

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Simeon and the dragon fought long and hard. Simeon was near exhaustion but he

knew he could not give up. He had come to save his Granny and he would either

save her or die trying. With a final burst of energy Simeon broke through the

dragon’s defense. He cut out the dragon’s heart and smashed it on the ground. The

dragon fell dead at his feet. Granny Garlic rushed over to Simeon. She cried as she

hugged him and kissed him. “I’m so happy you’re alive Simeon! I was so worried!”

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Before Simeon could respond a strange old wrinkly pepper emerged from

the darkness. “Young Simeon, you are a hero. You have rescued your

Granny and slayed the evil dragon. What is it you desire most? I will grant

you one wish.” Simeon thought long and hard. “What I want most is to be

home safe and sound with my Granny.” “Granted!” Said the old wizardly

pepper. He showed Simeon and Granny to a strange machine that would

take them home fast as could be.

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Simeon turned to thank the

old pepper, but he was gone.

Granny and Simeon climbed

into the vehicle. As soon as

they were inside it started

up and rumbled out of the

cave. Once outside it took

off, flying above the ground,

over the lush valley, the

frigid mountains, the dark

forest, and all the way back

to Granny’s humble cottage

on the outskirts of town.

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Granny and Simeon went inside. She made Simeon

some tea and brushed her teeth. After Simeon was

rested he told her all about his adventure. He also told

Granny how very glad he was to be home safe and

sound. “Granny,” Simeon said, “I love you.”

“And I love you my dear Simeon.”

Granny Garlic and Simeon lived happily ever after.

The End.